The 2008 US Open is already halfway over and it is time for midterm report cards!
Did your favorite ace the field last week or just hit too many double-faults?
Aces
Venus and Serena Williams
There is always room for improvement, but you have to look pretty hard to find any chinks in Venus and Serena’s games over the past seven days. Both have looked solid and easily advanced to the fourth round. It’s just a pity that they could face each other so early in the quarterfinals.
Caroline Wozniacki
The wiz kid from Copenhagen saw her US Open journey end on Sunday, but not before winning a host of new fans. Look for great results in the future, once she gets a few more years of experience on her resume.
Dinara Safina
The Tour’s version of Harry Houdini has escaped yet again at a major. This time, Safina was two points away from a third round loss to Timea Bacsinszky, but dug deep for a hard-fought victory.
Anna-Lena Groenefeld
O Anna-Lena, Anna-Lena! Wherefore art thou Anna-Lena? Ditching the Shakespeare, six months ago, you could hardly find Groenefeld with a flashlight on Tour. But suddenly, she rides into Flushing Meadows and takes the field by storm. Well done.
Amelie Mauresmo
While her slump was not near as bad as what Groenefeld has experienced, it is exciting to see Mauresmo alive in the second week of a Grand Slam. Kudos to the former champion who refused to quit and retire when the chips got down.
Elena Dementieva
Having a gold medal draped around her neck has done wonders for Dementieva’s confidence. I would look for Dementieva in Saturday’s final.
Net Cords
Jelena Jankovic
Jankovic is still alive in the tournament and pursuing her first Grand Slam, but I have not been impressed by her run to the fourth round. She scrapped through the first few rounds to set up a meeting with Sybille Bammer, a match that she should get past. But the fun will really start if she joins Elena Dementieva in the semifinals.
Lindsay Davenport
Considering the fact that Davenport was not even expected to play singles at the Open, she did remarkably well just reaching the third round. But on the flip side, it would be sad to see Davenport end her career on such a low note as her match against Bartoli was one of the worst of her career.
Faults
Svetlana Kuznetsova
What is going on with Svetlana Kuznetsova? She has not admitted to any injuries, yet the 2004 US Open champion is clearly off her game.
Ana Ivanovic
A thumb injury and lack of practice were to blame for Ivanovic’s exit, but the current No. 1 is also suffering from a lack of confidence. This could be a classic case of too much, too fast for a rising young star, and we can only hope it clears up before Melbourne.
I agree with one thing you wrote about Lindsay it was one of the worst match of her career. It’s the play on bit I don’t agree with. I have followed Lindsay since 1994 and I want her to be remembered as a great champion not a star that hung on too long. I don’t say this happened with one match but there is a pattern developing with Lindsay at slams Lindsay beats the players she’s suppose to and then gets hammered by the top players. I want her to retire as I know she’s better than that.
I think you summed it all up quite well, Aaress. And I’ll add a couple of shout-outs to Julie Coin (who lost quite respectably in her third round) and the always-enjoyable Flavia Pennetta.